Cell phone for a semester in Italy?

<p>My son will be in Rome, Italy, for the fall semester. We have Sprint cellphones. Sprint tells me that we would have to buy a new phone for it to work in Italy. Is he better off just buying a new phone when he gets to Italy? How much would that cost? He wouldn't be able to call the U.S. with the phone, right?</p>

<p>I'm so confused, and any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>